* * *

“Alright then, we’ll proceed as planned,” she said.

“Yes, I’ll leave it to you.”

The editor pursed her lips slightly, as if feeling a twinge of regret, and began packing up her laptop. She stole a glance at Jungyoon’s expression.

Even though he was already a bestselling author who didn’t need much promotion, she couldn’t help but lament the fact that only she got to see his flawless features.

If he revealed his face even once, it would be an instant sensation.

It always felt surreal that someone with such doll-like features could write such grim, intense thrillers.

“So, what’s the good news?”

Right on cue, Jungyoon steered the conversation in a different direction.

Snapping out of her thoughts, the editor answered quickly.

“It’s about the favor you asked me for.”

Jungyoon’s eyes widened, his already large pupils seemingly on the verge of spilling out.

There was only one thing he had requested from the editor.

Recently, Jungyoon had been researching the private lives of prominent business figures for his next project.

However, their well-guarded world was almost impenetrable to an outsider.

Beyond news articles, interviews, and the occasional gossip from finance circles, his efforts to gather material had hit a wall.

“No way…”

“Yes, I found an interviewee.”

“Who is it?”

“Yoon Taerim, CEO of Royal Peak Hotel.”

The editor grinned widely, flashing her teeth, and made a victory sign with her fingers.

Even she couldn’t quite believe she had managed to secure such a figure.

“I happened to meet him at a charity event recently. I casually mentioned you, and he seemed very interested.”

“…”

“Since he’s on board, I thought I’d check if you’d like me to arrange a meeting.”

Jungyoon was speechless for a while.

His lips moved as if to speak, but no words came out—his surprise was evident.

“You’re okay with this, right? Honestly, where else would you find someone under these conditions?”

“Of course… I’m okay with it. It’s just so unexpected.”

To be honest, Jungyoon had never thought it likely to secure an interview with someone in the upper echelons of the business world.

At best, he’d hoped for a self-made startup CEO, though even that wasn’t exactly what he had in mind.

But Yoon Taerim?

How could he, a mere novelist, ever meet such a major figure?

On top of that, Taerim matched the age range he was looking for, ticking every box perfectly.

Seeing him still dumbfounded, the editor chuckled cheerfully.

“CEO Yoon said he’s a fan of your books and would like to meet you in person. From what I gather, he might also have a request of his own.”

“A request? Like what?”

“Not sure. Maybe something like writing promotional content for the hotel? You know they publish regular newsletters.”

Jungyoon nodded. If that was all, it was a reasonable exchange.

“Alright, let’s set up the meeting.”

“When are you free?”

“Anytime works.”

The editor promptly typed up an email on the spot.

For now, all she had was Yoon Taerim’s email address, not his direct contact information.

By dawn that day, a reply came in, and the meeting was scheduled for three days later.

---

Standing amidst a forest of buildings, Jungyoon fiddled with his phone.

The meeting with the editor was still about five minutes away.

The relentless rainy season had finally eased up.

While the sun had returned, the damp ground and the oppressive summer heat made the atmosphere stifling.

Wiping the sweat from his sticky nape with his palm, Jungyoon glanced around.

The sleek 15-story building attached to Royal Peak Hotel caught his eye again.

He suddenly remembered that Kang Jaehyuk worked somewhere inside that building.

He hadn’t yet told Jaehyuk about today’s meeting with CEO Yoon.

Part of it was the sudden nature of the appointment, but mainly it was because Jaehyuk had been so busy.

He didn’t want to burden someone already swamped with work.

‘I’ll tell him later… once everything’s confirmed.’

Resolving not to add to Jaehyuk’s stress, Jungyoon tucked his phone back into his pocket.

Just then, a taxi pulled up smoothly in front of the building.

When the passenger stepped out, Jungyoon was visibly startled.

“…Editor Go?”

Her makeup, obviously done at a professional salon, gave her face a polished glow.

Eunjoo quickly climbed the steps to where Jungyoon was waiting, the strong scent of her perfume wafting in the air.

“Have you been waiting long, Writer Seo?”

“No, I just got here.”

With her elegantly styled hair and a dress she rarely wore, Eunjoo looked completely different from the unassuming figure she had been just days ago.

Jungyoon couldn’t help but comment.

“You’ve really dressed up today.”

“Does it show? I spent a lot on this.”

“Definitely.”

“You’ll understand when you meet CEO Yoon. If you don’t dress up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.”

“Should I have put more effort in, too?”

Hearing that, the editor took a step back to assess Jungyoon’s appearance.

He was dressed simply in a thin shirt tucked into neat slacks.

Even the tucked-in shirt was signature Jungyoon.

His slim, pale arms extended from his short sleeves, complementing his deer-like features.

The understated outfit somehow suited him perfectly.

“No, you look great as is. You just need to show your face.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

When Jungyoon let out a wry laugh, the editor casually linked her arm with his, taking the lead for the socially reserved author as they walked toward the building.

When they arrived on the top floor following the guidance, a secretary who had been waiting greeted them.

Seo Jungyoon naturally assumed they would meet with CEO Yoon Taerim together, but the secretary unexpectedly separated the two.

“Writer Seo Jungyoon, please follow me to the CEO’s office. Editor Go Eunjoo, kindly wait in the reception room for a moment.”

“Good luck, Writer Seo!”

Before he had a chance to react, Seo Jungyoon found himself alone in the CEO’s office.

He sat on the sofa as directed by the secretary, but being left in the empty room made his mouth dry involuntarily.

“The CEO will be here shortly. Shall I prepare some tea for you? Would you prefer something hot or cold?”

“Ah… hot, please.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

The secretary bowed at a precise 45-degree angle before leaving.

Seo Jungyoon watched the secretary with mild curiosity, his habit of observing people kicking in—an occupational hazard.

Once the door closed and he was entirely alone, his attention shifted to the surroundings.

Remaining seated on the sofa, he slowly surveyed the CEO’s office.

An office is just an office, wherever you go.

But surely the workspace of an executive managing a globally renowned hotel chain would have something special about it.
The roughly 20-pyeong space (66.12 Square Meter, 711.66 square feet) , encapsulating one person’s preferences and work style, could be summed up in one word: immaculate.

Every piece of furniture seemed undeniably expensive, and while numerous items were arranged throughout the space, not a single thing was out of place.

Everything was lined up with near-obsessive precision, as if any disarray was intolerable.

Just looking at it made him feel oddly suffocated, and Seo Jungyoon unconsciously touched the back of his neck.

‘I could never work in a place like this.’

He thought of his own workspace—a chaotic room with books haphazardly piled on the floor like a makeshift graveyard.

No doubt Yoon Taerim wouldn’t last a moment in such an environment.

As he idly imagined a man he had never met, a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

It eased his tension slightly, and the stiffness in his shoulders began to relax.

The secretary, who had gone to prepare tea, was taking longer than expected.

* * *